Paper stuffing machine



PAPER STUFFING MACHINE Filed July 29, 1957 6 Sheets-Shet 1 INVENTORS/ Joseph flmvmarm.

6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS, Jase M flarfmamz John 6. Jam me.

ATTORNEYS.

May 30, 193 J. HARTMANN ET AL.

PAPER STUFFING MACHINE Filed July 29, 1937 May 30, 1939- J. HARTMANN ET AL 87 PAPER STUFFING MACHINE Filed July 29, 1937' 6 Sheets-Shet 5 INVENTORS. Joaep/r f/drfmann, BY fl/rn 6f 'nmybe/A May) 30, 19 39. 1. HARTMANN ET AL PAPER STUFFING MACHINE Filed July 29, 1957 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Jase a garfma'lm,

Jah

ATTORNEKS May 30, 1939.

J. HARTMANN El" AL PAPER STUFFING MACHINE Filed July 29, 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS, ,0/1 fldr ATTORNEYS May 30, 1939. J. HARTMANN ET AL 2,159,937

PAPER STUF'FING MACHINE Filed July 29 1937 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 1N VENT ORS Joseph Hanwm/m,

Jo/m 6f Cam aka.

Patented May 30, 1939 PATENT OFFICE PAPER STUFFING MACHINE Joseph Hartmann, North Kansas City, and John G. Campbell, Kansas City, Mo., assignors of fifty-one per cent to William L. Suiter, Kansas City, Mo.

Application July 29, 1937, Serial No. 156,370

15 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in a sheet material inserting machine and particularly to a paper stufilng machine suitable for assembling the folded sections of a newspaper,

- and has for its objects to provide a simple and compact machine capable of handling a relatively large number of papers-and deliver them properly associated to a common point.

With these, and other objects which will appear during the course of the specification, in view, reference will now be had to the drawings, wherein: I

Figure 1 is a plan view of a paper stufiing machine embodying this invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the machine shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view, taken on line III-III of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, vertical, "sectional view, taken on line IV--IV of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a detached elevation of a portion of the paper delivery mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a sectional plan view, showing the paper-receiving mechanism.

Fig. 7 is'an enlarged, detailed view of one of the operating cams and associated parts.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view, taken on line VIII-VIII of Fig.3.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view, taken on line IX-IX of Fig. 3.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view, showing one of the pockets with the suction cups in closed relation.

Fig. 11 is a view similar to that shown in Fig. 10, with the vacuum cups moved to the open position. v

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 11, with two of the folded sections inserted into the outer section.

Fig. 13 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view, showing the suction cup mechanism in two positions.

Fig. .14 is a sectional view, taken on line XIV-XIV of Fig. -13.

Fig. 15 is an enlarged, sectional view, taken on line XV--XV of Fig. 8.

Fig. 16 is an enlarged, sectional view, taken on line XVI--XVI of Fig. 9.

Fig. 17 is an enlarged, plan View, partly in section, of one of the units and the central operating cam.

Fig. 18 is an elevation of one of the pockets and associated parts, looking against the direction of travel.

' 44 and connects with push arm 64, which is opframe 24, which serves to support a series of spaced-apart magazines 26 and 28, provided with individual, adjustable standards 30, by means of which the heavily loaded magazines are pre- 15 vented from sagging.

The magazines are alike in construction and comprise an arcuate housing 32, open at its outer end for the reception of a stack of folded sections 34 of a newspaper, etc. The inner end of said magazine is partially closed at its upper side by means of wall '36 which serves as an abutment for the papers. A follow-up weight 38 serves to force the stack of papers against wall 36 as the inside papers are fed from the magazine,as hereinafter set forth. A spring-actuated follow-up plate might be used instead of the gravity weight when the stack is so positioned as to preclude possible fall of the weight.

The individual folded sections are successively fed from the stack by means of the following mechanism, best shown in Figs. 3, 13, 14 and 17. A tubular arm 4|], slidably mounted in the T- shaped sleeve 42, which in turn is securely mounted on rocker arm 44, pivotally carried by brackets 46, is adapted to carry at its outer end a suction cup 48, made of pliable material, such as rubber. Brackets 46 are rigidly carried by bars 5|] secured to arms 5| of frame 24, and are positioned in spaced-apart relation relative to the magazine 26. To facilitate proper movement of the folded sections 34 from the magazine, two of the suction cups 48 with associated parts are provided to engage the paper at different points. A spring 52, positioned on arm 40 intermediate sleeve 42 and an adjustable collar 54, serves to maintain the suction cup 48 against the outer folded section 34 of the stack, except when otherwise retracted, as hereinafter described.

A fitting 56 carried by arm 40 serves to interconnect the outer ends 58 of the bifurcated tube 59 with said hollow arm 40, which in turn communicates with the vacuum cup 48 through opening 60. An arm 62 is secured to rocker arm erable by a rotatably mounted cam 66 to move said rocker arm in one direction against the action of spring 68, which normally holds the arm 40 in a substantially horizontal position.

The push rod 64 is slidably mounted in bracket- 10 mounted on cross bar 12 carried by arms- 50. The compression spring 68 is positioned under tension between bracket.10 and the adjustable collar 14 so as to produce a lifting effect on the suction cups. The inner portion of push 'arm 64 is slidably mounted in a-bracket 16 carried by frame 24. Roller 18, secured by the bifurcatedfltting 80 to the end of arm 64, serves to eliminate much of the friction with the cam.

It has been found necessary to raise the suction cups from the surface of the stack of folded sections 34 during their upward stroke, and for this purpose the followingmechanism is provided. Spaced-apart brackets 82, mounted on means of spring 88 engaging pin 80 carried by' The oscillation of the cam is limited cam 86. in two directions by the pin 90 which passes through arcuate slot 92 formed through the wall of bracket 82. r

Pins or,rollers 94, carried at opposite sides of arm 40, ride along the outer face 86 of cam 86,

thereby causing the cam to rotate against the,

action of spring 88 until such time that the roller leaves the cam when the cam, through the action of spring 88, will move forward so that the pins 90 will move along the inner face 86 and force the vacuum cup 48 away from the stack against the action of spring 52. When the arm 40 has again been moved toits raised position by the action of spring 68, then spring 52 will cause the suction cup to be again forced against'the stack of paper.

At each downward stroke of the suction cup 48, a folded section 34 is fed downwardly between two sets 98 and I00 of revolving feed discs I02, mounted on shafts 99 and IOI respective y. which force the foldedv sections downwardly to receiving members hereinafter described. The inner set of discs I00, carried by brackets I04, are driven by means of an individual motor I06 which may directly connect thereto. The outer set of discs 98 are mounted for rotary movement in brackets H0 and are urged against the discs of set I00 by means of compression springs II2. A

'a ball race 4, provided with balls II6. A drive pulley H8 is rotatably mounted on standard 20 and has a ball race H9 which serves to receive balls II6. A motor I20, carried by frame I22, is interconnected with drive pulley II8 by belt I24, whereby the same is rotated on standard 20. A carrying frame I26, having a hub I28 keyed to the hub of pulley 'I I8, is provided with radial armsl30, each bifurcated at its outer end to receive and support paper receiving pockets I32 and I34.

Sleeve I36 is secured at its lower end in concentric relation with standard 20, and is provided at its upper end with a rigidly attached cam 68 which rotates therewith about the standard. A

'valve assembly I38 is provided and adapted to be fitted on sleeve I38 adjacent. cam 66 to control the vacuum to the suction cups 48. The details of valve I38 are best shown in Figs. 3, 8 and 15,

and consist of a stationary jacket I40, held against rotation by any suitable means such as the vacuum pipes I42 and I 44, a cover plate I46, and an-inner valve member I48, secured for rotation with sleeve I36. Member I48 is so formed and positioned in jacket I40 as to produce a vacuum chamber and to present a series of equally spaced valves I52, whereby the ports I54 formed in jacket I40, with which the respective vacuum tubes 58 communicate, are caused to be closed. Recesses I 56 formed in the face of valves I 52, communicate with ports I58 in the under side of cover plate I46 to allow the inrush of air when it is desired to release the hold of the suction cup on the paper section. It will be observed that by the use of this valve assembly I38, an opening and closing of each port I54 seven 'times during each revolution of sleeve I36 is obtained, thereby making it possible to deliver to each of the seven pockets I32, one folded section 34. from each of the outer magazines 26, thus delivering three of the folded paper sections to each pocket in a fixed relation, as hereinafter described.

The inner magazines 28 have like parts, as just described, and folded paper sections are delivered therefrom to the inner series of receiving pockets M8 in like manner.

All of the paper receiving pockets I32 and I34 1 in both the innerand outer series are substantially the same, so that but one will be described. The pocket proper consists of a U-shaped member I60, secured toarm I30 by angles I62. These pockets are equally spaced circumferentially and the relative relation of the various folded sections of paper, it will be noted that the first folded section 34 deposited in the pocket is engaged by suction cups I66 and I68, as shown in Fig. 10, and then moved to the open position, as shown in Fig. 11, so that the folded sections 34A and 343 may be inserted and permitted to take the position shown, due to gravity and the centrifug'al force caused by the rotary movement of the pocket. The vacuum cup I66 is carried by a fixed, hollow arm I10 carried by frame I26, and

is in communication with a vacuum chamber I12, formed invalve assembly I14 (see Fig. 9) through a pipe I16. The inner suction cup I68 is carried by a hollow arm I18, pivoted at I80, and having 9. depending operating arm I82 which cooperates with the stationary cam member I84 once during each revolution of the pocket, about standard 20, to cause the suction cup to take the forward position shown in Fig. 10, thereby opening the first folded paper section, delivered'to the pocket, for the reception of the succeeding folded sections to be delivered therein.

of the leaf spring I98, which is secured to frame The hollow arm I'I8 communicates with vacuum chamber I12 through flexible tube I92 and pipe I16, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. It is to be noted that all the suction cups herein referred to are saucer shaped and are in direct communication with a vacuum chamber, so that a definite suction may be created when the cup is closed by a sheet of paper.

Reference will now be had to valve assembly I14, wherein a rotatable housing I94 cooperates with a stationary core I96 to form a vacuum chamber I'I2. (See Figs. 3, 9 and 16.) A valve section I98, integral with core I96, is so positioned and constructed as to break the vacuum to each set of pockets once during each revolution. Each port 288 is first cut off by valve I98 and then placed in connection with the outside atmosphere through recess 282 formed in the outer face of valve I98 and the respective opening 284 formed in housing I94. This release of the vacuum is necessary to permit the removal of the assembled paper sections from the machine as hereinafter set forth. It will be noted that a portion of the pocket is cut away as at 286 to allow free movement of arm I18.

Theentire suction system just described is provided with the required vacuum by pipe I45, which extends down through standard 28 and to any suitable means for creating a vacuum, not

shown.

Referring now to the means for removing the assembled sections of folded paper from thema- ;chine, reference will be had to Figs. 1, 2, 4, 19 and 20, wherein the standards 288, secured together by means of tie rods 2I8, are adapted to support mechanism above the path of travel of pockets I32 and I34, which is operable to successively engage the assembled papers in the separate pockets and deliver them to a conveyor belt.2l2 for delivery to'any desired location. Conveyor belts 2I2 pass over rollers 2I4, mounted on shaft 2I5, and are carried by the standards 288. The movement of belts 2I2 is in the direction shown by the arrows, and the driving means is hereinafter described.

Reference will first be had to the specific means 2I6, whereby the spaced-apart portions of the outer section of folded paper are drawn together and delivered between feed rollers 2I8 and 228. As soon as the upper edge of A is positioned between said rollers, roller 2 I8, which is normally in the inoperative position, is moved toward roller 228 to securely engage the paper A and cause it to be ejected from the pocket. Roller 2I8 is mounted on shaft 2I9 for rotation in a carriage 222, which is adapted to be supported on wheels 224, and to be moved transversely by means of the push arm 226 having roller 228 at its inner end to engage the cam 238, which is similar to and integral with cam 66.

Cam 238 is'provided with seven equally spaced undulations 232, whereby the rollers are caused to operate and engage the assembled papers in each of the seven series of pockets as they move in operative relation therewith. This cam 238 might be eliminated and the carriage moved by cam 66, since they are identical in shape. Carriage 222 is normally held in the inoperative position and retracted by the action of springs 234. Roller 236, mounted on shaft 231 and carried by carriage 222, cooperates with roller 238 mounted on shaft 239, carried by standards 288, to remove the assembled papers from the outer pockets I32. It will be noted that these rollers 2I8, 228, 236 and 238 are each made up of a series of spacedapart roller elements, mounted on shafts for rotation therewith. A solid or circumferentially grooved roller might also be used.

The assembled folded sections marked A in Fig. 4, when delivered by the rollers 2? and 228, are directed by a short conveyor belt 248 to the conveyor belt 2I2. The belts 248 pass over rollers 228, then around discs 242, which are mounted for rotation with shaft 244 in standards 288. A shield 246 serves to maintain A in-the proper path of travel. The rollers 236 and 238, mounted on shafts 231 and 239 respectively cooperate to feed the assembled folded sections B direct to the conveyor belt 2I2. Shield 248, carried by standards 288, prevents interference between belts 248 and the outgoing paper assembly B.

The assembled folded sections A and B, when gripped by the respective pairs of feed rollers, are resting against the spring I64, and due to the fact that the rotary motion of A and B is stopped, spring I 64 will be deflected until the paper has been moved sufficiently high to free itself therefrom.

The motor 258 carried by standard 288 is provided with a pulley 252 which drives roller 228 through means of belt 254 and pulley 256, mounted on shaft 22I, and also drives pulley 238 through belt 258 and pulley 268 mounted on shaft 238. The conveyor belt 2I2 is driven by a pulley 262, mounted on shaft 239, belt 264, and pulley 266 mounted on shaft 2I5. The relative speeds of the different parts driven by motor 258 may be changed by simply varying the size of the respective pulleys.

The assembled folded sections A and B are simultaneously engaged by their respective rollers, but B will reach the conveyor 2I2 ahead of A, since it has a shorter distance to travel. A variation in the rate of rotation of the respective feed rollers might be employed to space A and B on the conveyor belt.

In the operation of this machine, the magazines 26 and 28 are filled with folded sections 34 and the follow-up weight 38 positioned to force roller I88, which in turn drives roller 98. Motor 258 is also provided with an electrical current to drive the ejector rolls and the conveyor belts, as

described above. When said motors have attained their normal speed and the operating parts are in motion, then motor I28 is energized to rotate the pockets I32 and I34 with'their associated parts, about the standard 28. Since the operation of each series of pockets I32 and I34 is substantially identical, it willbe sufllcientto describe the action of the series I32, which receive their folded sections from magazines 26.

In describing the relative positioning of the pockets and magazines, reference will be had to Fig. 1, and it will be noted that the pockets are considered to be rotating in the direction of the arrow. It will be considered that the pocket I32 directly beneath the ejecting means travels beneath the magazine 26, positioned at the left thereof, and receives a folded section 3 1. This first section deposited in pocket I32 is to be the cover section for subsequent folded sections deposited in said pocket, and is therefore engaged and moved to the open position by means of suction cups hereinbefore described in detail. This first section 34 is properly positioned in the open condition before said pocket reaches the succeeding magazine 26 in its forward travel.

When the pocket I32 is directly beneath the second magazine 26, another insert is deposited therein between the opened leaves of the folded section first deposited. This second deposited folded section is moved outwardly so as to rest against the outer leaf of the open section, due to centrifugal force. In like manner, the folded section from the third magazine 26 is deposited in pocket i 32. These three assembled, folded sections are now ready to be ejected from the machine, and in due course move into operative relation with the ejecting mechanism and are delivered to the conveyor belts M2 and carried to any desired point. Each of the seven pockets H32 are likewise loaded and unloaded, thereby delivering at each revolution of the pockets, seven completely assembled, folded sections. The number of inserts may be increased or decreased by simply increasing or decreasing the number of pockets and associated magazines.

' a like number of assembled, folded sections as stated relative to pockets I32. It is very apparent that any desired number of series of pockets might be utilized in order to obtain the desired number of assembled, folded sections during a given period of time.

While the preferred form of operating means has been shown in the drawings, yet it is desired to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. In a machine of the character described, a series of circumferentially disposed receiving pockets mounted for rotation about a common axis; spaced-apart stationary magazines, each adapted to support a stack of folded sections adjacent the path of travel of said pockets; means to deliver folded sections to 'said pockets from said magazines; and means to removed the assembled sections from the pockets.

2. In a machine of the character described, a series of pockets mounted for rotation about a common axis; spaced-apart stacks of folded sections supported on stationary magazines and adjacent the path of travel of said pockets; means operable to deliver a folded section from each of said stacks into each of said pockets during one revolution of the pockets; and means to remove the assembled sections from said pockets.

3. In a machine of the character described, a plurality of stationary magazines, each adapted to hold a stack of folded sections, a series of receiving pockets rotatably mounted and operable to successively pass adjacent each of said pockets; means operable to deliver a folded section from each of said magazines to each of said pockets at each revolution of the pockets; and means to remove the assembled sections from each pocket during said revolution.

4..In a machine of the character described, a series of circumferentially disposed receiving path of travel of said pockets; means timed with the rotation of said pockets to remove folded sections from said magazines and deliver them to said rotating pockets, whereby one folded section is delivered from each magazine to each pocket during a single revolution of said pockets; and means operable to remove the assembled folded sections from each pocket during each revolution of the pockets.

5. In a machine of the character described, a series of circumferentially disposed receiving pockets mounted for rotation about a common axis; spaced-apart magazines, each adapted to support a stack of folded sections adjacent the path of travel of said pockets; means timed with the rotation of said pockets to remove folded sections from said magazines and deliver them to said rotating pockets, whereby one folded section 9 is delivered from each magazine to each pocket during a single revolution of said pockets; and means, timed with the rotation of said pockets, operable to remove the assembly of folded sections from each pocket during said single revolution of the pockets.

6. In a machine of the character described, a series of circumferentially disposed receiving pockets mounted for rotation about a common axis; spaced-apart magazines, each adapted to support a stack of folded sections adjacent the path of travel of said pockets; means to deliver folded sections to said pockets from said magazines; means to separate the leaves of the folded section first delivered to the respective pockets, whereby the folded section subsequently delivered will be positioned between said separated leaves; and means to remove said assembled folded sections from the pockets.

'7. In a machine of the character described, a series of circumferentially disposed receiving pockets mounted for rotation about a common axis; spaced-apart magazines, each adapted to support a stack of folded sections adjacent the path of travel of said pockets; means to deliver folded sections to said pockets from said magazines; suction means to separate and secure the leaves of the folded section first delivered to the respective pockets in an open position, whereby subsequent folded sections deposited will be positioned between said separated leaves; and means to remove the assembled folded sections from the pockets.

8. In a machine of the character described, a series of circumferentially disposed receiving pockets mounted for rotation about a common axis; spaced-apart magazines, each adapted to support a stack of folded sections adjacent the path of travel of said pockets; means to deliver folded sections to said pockets from said'magazines; suction means to separate and secure the leaves of the folded section first delivered to the respective pockets in an open position, whereby subsequent folded sections deposited will be positioned between said separated leaves; means to release the hold of the suction means on said first delivered folded section; and means to remove the assembled folded sections from the respective pockets when said suction means is inoperative.

9. In a machine of the character described, a series of circumferentially disposed receiving pockets mounted for rotation about a common axis; spaced-apart magazines, each adapted to 55 axis; spaced-apart magazines, each support a stack of folded sections adjacent the path of travel of said pockets; means to deliver folded sections to said pockets from said magazines; suction means to separate and secure the leaves of the folded section first delivered to the respective pockets in an open position, whereby subsequent folded sections deposited will be positioned between said separated leaves; means to release the hold of the suction means on said first.

delivered folded section; and means to remove the assembled folded sections from the respectivepockets and deliver them on a conveyor belt, when said suction means is inoperative.

10. In a machine of the character described,

a-standard; a series of pockets mounted .to rotate about said standard; spaced-apart magazines each adapted to support a stack of folded sections adjacent the path of travel of said pockets; os-

cillatable suction cups adapted to engage and 'deliver from thestack the inside folded sections during one direction of its movement and to be spaced apart from the stack during its movement in the other direction; feed rollers operable to receive and drive said folded section to one of said pockets as it moves adjacent thereto; means whereby the sheets of the first folded section delivered to each pocket are separated to 'receive the subsequently delivered folded section therebetween; and means to remove the assembled folded sections from the pockets during each revolution thereof.

11. In a machine of the character described,

a standard, a series of pockets mounted to rotate about said standard; spacedrapart magazines each adapted to support a stack of folded sections adjacent the path of travel of said pockets;

oscillatabie suction cups adapted to engage and deliver from the stack the inside folded sections during one direction of its movement and to. be spacedapartfromthestackduringitsmovement in the other direction;

pockets as it moves adjacent thereto; means whereby the sheets of the first folded section delivered to each pocket are separated to receive the subsequently delivered folded section therebetween; and means, including relatively movable, cooperating rollers, whereby the assembled folded sections in each pocket are engaged and ejected from said pockets during. each revolution thereof.

12. In a machine of the character described, a series of circumferentially disposed receiving pockets mounted for rotation about a. common adapted to a common standard; a series of feed rollers operable to receive and drive said folded section to one of saidof said series of pockets, each adapted to. carry a stack of folded sections; means associated with each magazineiwhereby a folded section is delivered to each pocket of its associated series during each revolution of the pockets; and means associated \with each series of pockets whereby all assembled folded sections delivered thereto are ejected therefrom ateach revolution of thepockets.

14. In a machine 0 v plurality of horizontally disposed, concentric series of .circumferentially disposed receiving pock'- ets mounted for rotation about a common standard; a series of spaced-apart magazines, adja'- cent the path of travel of'each of" said series of pockets, each adapted to carry a stack of folded sections; means associated with each magazine I 80 whereby a folded section is delivered to each pocket of its associated series during each revofolded sections delivered thereto are ejected therefrom at each revolution of the pockets.

15. In a machine of the character described; a plurality of series of circumferentially disposed receiving pockets mounted for rotation about a common standard; a series of spaced-apart magazines, adjacent the path of travel of each each magazine whereby a folded section is delivered to each pocket of its associated series during each revolution of the pockets; means for separating the leaves of the initial folded section delivered to each pocket whereby folded sections subsequently delivered will be positioned between said separated leaves; and means'asso-' ciated with each'series'of pockets whereby all assembled folded sections delivered thereto are ejected therefrom at each revolution of the pockets.

. JOSEPH HAR'IMANN. JOHN G. CAMPBELL.

f the "character described, a v

lution of the pockets; and means associated with each series of pockets whereby all assembled 40' of said series ofpockets, each adapted tocarry a stack of folded sections; means associated with 

